Leather-working machine



c. A. sAwYER,1. LEATHEI'woRKlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I71A 192|.

1,43,1 14. Patnted Nov. 21, 1922.

Y 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1. h. Y IQ w C. A. SAWYER, In. LEATHER WORKING MAGHINE. APPLICATION msn ArgJL-lszl.

1,436, 114. Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0. A. sAwYER, 1R. LEATHER WORKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.I7. I92I.

lhfllf u Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

5 SHEETS--SHEEI 3.

c. A. SAWYEH, 1R. LEATHER WORKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I7, 192|.

Patented Nov. 2 1, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

C. A. SAWYER, IR. LEATHER WORKING MACHINE.

AFPLICATION FILED AUG.I7, |921.

Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

UNTS

:HEATHER-WORKING MACINE.

Application led August 17, 1921.

T 0 all whom it' may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES ADRIAN Saw- YER, Jr., acitizen of the United States, and resident of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Leather-lorking Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying draqwings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My present invention `relates toV leather working machines, and more particularly to a sole blanking cutting` machine in which leather strips are continuously7 fed to reciprocating cutters.

In my Patent No. 1,368,225, granted February 8, 1921, I have described and claimed the novel features of the construction and arrangement of parts in a leather working machine known as a dinker. In my copending application, Serial No. 377,321, filed April 28, 1920, I have described and claimed a sole blank cutting machine with adjustable knives or cutters, certain features of the machine described and claimed in my patent, above referred to, being shown and described in said copendingapplication. In my copendin` application, Serial No. 1,160,116, filed April 9, 1921, I have described and claimed the novel features of the construction and arrangement of parts of an automatically and continuous operating' sole blank cutting` machine, in which the adjustable knives or cutters described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 37 7,321, are preferably, though not necessarily, used, and in which the machine described and claimed in said Patent No. 1,368,225, and application Serial No. 377,321 are used as a basis. In my present invention, forming the subject matter of the present application, and which is .directed primarily to improvements in the machine described and claimed in my copending application Serial No.v 460,116, I have necessarily utilized Ysome of the details of the construction described and claimed in the Patent No. 1,368,225, and application Serial No. 377,321, and hence desire to refer specifically to the same herein.

In the commercial installation of the machine described and claimed in lmy cepending application Serial No. 460,116, certain features of construction proved inadequate to withstand the strain imposed thereon,

Serial No. 492,908.

such for example, the means for imparting the step-by-step movement to the strip carrying belt or carriage, while, as originally constructed, such means could not be rigidly adjusted with regard tothe limits of its movement, and therefore, there was liability that the extent of forward movement ofthe strips of leather would vary. Such adjustment is very desirable however, as it enables the rear edge of the strip of leather to be adjusted relative to the rear ends of the gang of cutters or knives.

The leather feeding and carrying means consists essentially of a pair of endless sprocket chains spaced apart by cross bars, the chains running over sprockets mounted on rotatable shafts. Because of the uneven wearing' and stretching of the endless chains, it has been impossible to maintain the cross bars parallel with each other and therefore perpendicular to the line of travel of the chains. As it is essential that the leather strips be fed to the knives or cutters so as to bring' each strip squarely under such knives, I have devised an improved means for mounting` the cross bars on the chains which enables me to independently adjust each end of each cross bar with respect to the separate chains and thus position such cross bars parallel to each other and perpendicular to the line of travel of the chains.

Heretofore, the strips of leather were placed in position to be grasped by the feeding means with the left hand edge of the strips in approximate alinement with the left hand cutter of the gang of cutters. Due to the necessity for adjusting` the various cutters to cut different sizes or widths of sole blanks and-due also `to the fact that the leather strips would curl to an extent suiiicientto disturb or render impossible accurate adjustment of the left hand edge of the leather strip, it was found that too large a percentage of the end sole blanks were imperfect. To overcome this difliculty, I have devised an adjustable gage to be located at the point where the leather strips are fed into the machine by the operator, the contour of this gage being identical with the contour of the outermost knife of the gang` of knives or cutters and in alinement therewith. Such gage facilitates the setting of the leather strips in that the operator has only to adjust the end of the leather strips with relation to the contour of the gage to be assured that such leather strip is correctly positioned. As the leather strips are fed into position in the machine in a substantially vertical position and as such strips are moved into a horizontal position in their passage to the cutters, the change of posr tion from 1,vertical to horizontal is quite rapid. In order that no obstacle may be interposed to such change of positionand yet to obtain all advantages accruing' from the use of the adjustable gage, I have made such gage in the form of a hinge, whereby the upper portion of such gage is adapted to be temporarily folded over as the strip of leather moves from vertical to horizontal position. j

The tendency of the leather strips to curl introduces another dificultyv in the operation of the machine as originally designed. in that it was uncertain what shape the cut sole would be when blanked out, and also trouble was experienced because of the leather strips curling' to such an extent that. they could not be fed under the rang of cutters. I have obviated these objections by the provision of a deflector and following means that gradually fiattens out the strips of leather as they approach the gang of cutters and retains control of such strips until they are located beneath the cutters,

It was found, on the machine as originally designed. that the strips of leather in mov- King rapidly from a substantially vertically to a horizontal position, has a tendency to shift their position in the gripping' devices. I have avoided this objection by placing` a curved deflectinpdevice in position to engage the upper edge of theleather strips and guide such strips gradually and surely into the horizontal position without danger of disturbing their position in the gripping` dcvices.

As there is considerable wei ght to the end less chain belts, cross arms, gripping' devices. etc., and as such devices move` as freely as may be over sprockets` there is a tendency on the part of such devices to overthrow due to the weight of such devices and the rapidity with which they are moved forward stepby-step. To avoid this objection and yet allow the leather strips to be moved forward, I have designed a form of a friction clutch device adapted to be attached to one of the sprocket carrying rotatable shafts to pre-l vent overthrow of the endless chain belts. cross arms and associated devices. Such device is preferably made adjustable in that the tension between the various elements may be varied as desired.

In the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section. of a sole blank cutting;- machine embodying my 1nvention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly in sccI tion. showing` the details of the safety clutch mechanism g Figi. 3 is a front elevation vof the frame for causing a step-by-step movement of the endless chain belt carriers: v

Fig". is a detail of the front end of the ronnect-imr.;F rod thatV extends from the frame to the crank located adjacent the cam drivin;` mechanism;

Fig', 5 is a side elevation of the connectingT rod, showing the manner of adjustably connecting the same to the frame Fig'. Gis an enlarged detail of the means for moving` the endless chain carrier stepby-step, and showing the adjustable .means for the cross bars;

Fig. is a front elevation of my improved adjustable page;V

Fie. 8 is a side elevation of Figi. 6;

F 9 is an elevation of my improved friction overthrow clutch, and

Fie: 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of FiefQ.

Referring` tothe drawings, 10 designates a hase on which is mount-ed standards or uprigrhts 11 spaced apartand held in position by bars 12. Intermediate the ends of the standards 11 is a bed 13 on which is mounted a block of wood or other suitable material` on which the leather strips are placed to be cut into sole blanks. In the upper part of the standards 11 is an adjustable cross-head la in which is mounted for reciprocation a cul-ter head 15 the cross-head 14 being adjustable vertically by means of suitable gears and shafts operated by a hand wheel 17. The standards 1 1 are tied together at the top by a cross-plate 16.

A shaft 18 mounted in suitable bearings on the standards 11 is provided at one end with a rotatable pulley 19, ily wheel 20, and one member 21 of a clutch. Attached to the shaft 1S is another member 22 of the clutch, and provision is made for bringing the members 21 and 22 into or out of engage ment with each other to control. the operation of the shaft .15%. Intermediate the ends of the shaft 18 are secured the spur gears 23 which mesh with the gears 24 mounted on the rotatable shaft 25 in the standards 11. Through suitable connections between the shaft 25 and the crosshead 14, said cross-head is reciprocated. A s. however.y such forms of connections are well known, and asthe details of the same do not concern my present invention, they will not be further described herein. Such connections and their manner of operation, are clearly shown and described in my patent above referred to, and reference is herein made to said patent for a full description of such connections.

Bearing' brackets 26, attached to either' side of the bed 13. have rotatably mounted therein a shaft 27. At the rear 0f said shaft,

te l

or at the right hand side of Fig. `1, is securely fastened a clutch operatingfork 28, which cooperates with -a groove 29 in the member 30 slidably mounted on a shaft 31 mounted in the standards 11. At the front entl of the shaft 27 is secured a crank arm 32, to the free end of which is pivotally attached one end of a connecting rod 33.` the other end of which is pivotally attached Yto the free end of the crank arm 34, secured to -a shaft rotatably mounted in bearing lu'acl-rcts 36 on one ofthe standards 1l. Fahd ably mounted in the standards 11, and parallel to the shaft 25, is a rod 37, provided near one end with a stop 38 which engages with one of the standards 11. to limit the movement of said rod'to the right as viewed in Fig. 2. N ear the other end of the rod 37 is a stop 39 and on the rod and between the stop and the standard 11 to the left of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 2, is a coiled spring 40, which tendsto force the rod 39 to the right. Adjusta-bly mounted on the rod 37 is a block 41 carrying a pin or rod 42 which extends rearwardly of the machine and carries a wire loop w-hich cooperates with a circular groove 44 in a roller 45 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 46 secured to the shaft k27. As shown in Fig. 2, this roller lies slightly to the right ofthe cam 47 secured to the shaft 25. There lis an operating handle (not shown) secured to the shaft 35 and positioned within easy and convenient reach of the operator, who sta-nds at the fro-nt of the machine, or at the extreme left of Fig. 1. By means of this handle (not shown) the clutching mechanism above'd-escribed may be controlled by the operator. Automatic safety means for preventing operation of the clutch mechanism will be hereinafter described.

Mounted on the base 10, at the front of the standards. 11, are frame members 49 spaced apart and held in position by rods 50. while on the base and at the rear `of the standards 11 is a frame 51. In the frame members 49 is a rotatable shaft 52 on which is secured chain sprockets 53, but one of which is shown. In the frame 51, at the upper end thereof, is a shaft 54 on which are secured chain sprockets 55. Pivotally mounted on a shaft 56 in the frame 51 is a frame 57. carrying a shaft 58 at its lower end on which is secured chain sprockets 59. A threaded bolt 60. pivotalvly mounted on the frame 51 extends through a boss 61 on the. frame 57 and `is provided kwith nuts 62. Between the nuts 62 and boss 61 is a coiled spring` 63 tending to swing the lower end of the frame 57 to the rear of the machine. Pivotally mounted von the shaft 54 is a frame 64 which extends forwardly the entire length of the machine, the forward end beinfr provided with downwardly extending side plates 65 carrying shafts 66 and 67 on which are mounted chain sprockets 68 and 69 respectively. Gn the side members, adjacent the side plates 65. are bosses 70 through which extends studs 71, which engage with spot faces 72 on the frame memhers 49, this construction providing means for raising or lowering' the forward end of the frame 64. Passing over the chain sprockets 55, 59, 68 and 69 on either side of the machine are chains 73, and extending between and secured to said chains at suitable intervals along the length of said chains are cross bars 74. These cross bars 74 slide along the top ofthe frame 64, as will be obvious from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 5. and the chains 7 3 will be held taut as they run on the sprockets by the tension exerted ongthe sprockets 59 by the coil spring 63, above described. A shaft 75 in the frame members 49 has pivotally mounted thereon a frame 76 carrying at its upper end a shaft 77.

rilhe frame 76 is provided with a bearingr member 78 in which is secured a shaft 80. a block 81 being secured Vto such shaft in any convenient or suitable manner. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that rods 82, threaded at 83 pass through the block 81. Slidably mounted on the rods 82 and limited in its movement in one direction by stops 84, is a block 100, and threaded through this block is an adjusting' screw 101, the end of this screw engaging with the block 81. At the eXtreme end of the rods 82 is another block 102. similar to the block and havinn' van adjusting screw 110 adapted to engage with the block 81 on the side opposite the adjusting' screw 101. Nuts 111 keep the block 102 on 'the rods 82. The other ends of the rods 82 thread into the bearingr 112 mounted on a shaft 113 secured in the end of the connecting' rod 99, a cam roller 101 beine; rotatably mounted on the shaft 113 and in position to `engage in a groove of a cam 102 attached to the side of the right hand gear 24. It will be obvious therefore, that rota-tion of the gear 24 will cause a. reciprocation of the rods 82, with the consequent swingring movement of the frame 76. and a step-by-step feeding movement of the chains `73and cross bars 74 because of the feeding devices 87 successively engaging vsaid cross bars. By this `construction also, l am enabled to adjust the position of the forward movement of the cross bars 74 with relation to the gang of cutters.

The cross bars 74 are preferably formed of angle iron and in the angle thereof is ro tatablv mounted a half-round shaft 103. suitable bearings 104 beine provided at the ends of the cross bars for this purpose. On each end of the half-round shaft 103 is secured a substantially trianmilar member 105 adapted to engage with rollers 106 on studs mounted on plates 107 secured to the downwardlyextending members 65 at the front of the machine, and with rollers 108 mounted on studs secured to the standards 11. As the chains 73 move in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1 to bring the gripping devices 109 into the position shown at the left of such figure, the triangular plates 105 engage the rollers 106 and open the gripping devices 109 to receive the strip of leather 124, while when the gripping devices 109 move past the gang of cutters, the

triangular plates 105 engage the rollers 108 which open the gripping devices to release the strips of leather. As the details of the construction of such gripping devices form no part of the present invention, they will not be described in detail herein.

' Mounted on the side members of the frame 64 and 'extending the entire length thereof are bars 119, said bars being spacec from the side members by blocks 120, and attached thereto by bolts 121. These bars 119 prevent the cross bars 74 from lifting upward.

At the front of the machine and at each side thereof are attached substantially upright plates 114 tothe upper end of which are bolted curved spring plates 115, the curve of these plates being approximately that of the upper or free edge of the leather strips 124. Assuming that a leather strip 124 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the continued movement of the chains 72 and 7 3 carries it, first upward, then through a relatively sharp turn and then rearwardly along the top of the machine toward the gang of cutters. Heretofore this sharp change in the direction of the travel of the leather strips was sufficient to disturb their position in the gripping devices, and sometimes to throw such strips therefrom. I nd, bv adding the curved plates above described. that such tendency on the part of the strips of leather is entirely obviated.

As the strips of leather 124 move rearwardly of the machine, in succession, toward the gang of cutters, they assume their natural shape-that is. any bends or curves they may have acquired during the tanning processes tend to reassert themselves, with the result that frequently it is impossible for them to feed under the gang of cutters.' To remedy this defect. I provide a deflecting and guiding plate 116, located between the free end of the curved plates 115 and the gang of cutters and fastened to the bars 119 that extend longitudinally of the machine. The front end of such plate 116 is extended upwardly, as shown at 117, to guide the warped strips of leather downwardly in their passage, while the rear end of such plate is vextended downwardly. as shown at 118, to positively guide the strips of leather well under the gang of cutters. It will be noted; by reference to Fig.. 1, that the free' end of the portion 118 kextends well under the gang of critters, the plate 116 being slotted, to allow such construction.

As it will sometimes happen that the cross bars 74 will overthrow and thus disaline the relative position of the leather strips and the gang of cutters, I arrange an overthrow preventing clutch comprising` a plate 123, rotatably mounted on the shaft 66 and provided with an arm 138 that engages with a plate 139 attached to the frame of the machine in any suitable manner. Attached to the shaft 66 by screws 140, and adjacent the plate 123, is a circular plate 141, the plates 123 and141 being separated by a leather disc 142. On the shaft 66, but on the opposite side of the plate 128, is a plate 146` "l the plates `123 and 143, is a plate 145, separated from the plate 123 by a leather disc 146, similar to theleather disc 142. The plate 145l is provided with a plurality of holes 147 vcountersunk at 148 at their outer end, and in these holes are driven a plurality of pins 149. The plate 143 is provided with a plurality of holes 150, equal in number to the number of holes 147, through which extendthe free ends of the pins 149. These holes 150 are counterbored at 151 on the end nearest the plate 145, and surrounding the pins 149 and located in the counterbored portions 149 and 151 are springs 152, which tend to force the leather discs 142 and 146 and the plates 123 and 145 toward the plate 141.

By adjusting the position of plate 143 relative to the plate 141, the tension exerted on the plate 123 by the leather discs'142 and 146, and therefore the degree of freedom of rotation of the shaft 66 may bevaried as desired; Any tendency on the part of the feeding device to cause an overthrow of the cross bars may thus be prevented.

Extending between and fastened to the plates 65 at either side of the machine is a flat rod 153, to which is slidably attached a plate 1'54'provided with a spring operated hinge 155 intermediate its ends. T o the upper or free end of this hinged plate 154 is secured a! gage whose vleft hand edge is shaped to conform with the curve of the outer left hand cutter of the gang of cutters. The plate 154 is moved along the flat rod 153 until its gaging edgev is in alinement with the outer left hand cutter, and it will be obvious that if the operatorcplaces a strip of leather in the gripping devices in such aposition that the left hand edge of such strip comes into proper relation with respect to such gaging edge. the strip will be brought into proper position beneath` the gang ofy cutters.

As the chains 7 3 may stretch or wearunevenly so that the cross bars 74 are noI longer moved at right angles to suchk chains, I have attached plates 156 at each end? of each cross bar 74, by riveting or in any other suitable manner, in such a position that the lower end of such plates are-normally engaged by the notch 89'of the feeding member 87. Through the lower end of each plate 156 1 screw an adjusting screw 157, lock nuts 158 providing meansvfor retaining the screws 157 in adjusted. position. Should: any cross bar 74 be out of alinem'ent, I may bring it into proper position with rela-tion to the travel' of the chains 73 by manipulating the proper adjusting screws 157, these screws then being engaged by thenotch `89.

A' frame 125, attached to the frame 51, has rotatably mounted therein, parallel to the shaft 25, a shaft 126 carrying a roll. 127v that extends across the width of` the frame 64.' Provision is made for rotating this roll at a greater surface speed than the speed of travelV of` the chains 73, but as the particular means for rotating the rolll does not concern the present invention it has not been shown. The' upper surface of this roll 127 is slightly below the upper surface of the block 14, so'that the cut soles, as they are movedl off such block by the cross bars 74, will be fed downwardly and to the right, as' viewed in Fig. 1, onto an endless belt 128, mounted on rollers 129 on shafts rotating. in` bearings 130 in the frame 125, said belt 128 having a movement transverse to the movement of the chains 73. The belt 128 may be of any desired length, the sole blanks falling off the belt into any convenient receptacle, or the belt may be long enough to allow an operator or operators to stand or sit along the side thereof and sort and stack the cut sole blanks, into boxes.

On each of the bars 119, on either side of the standards 11, I `have pivotally mounted a pair of bell crank levers 131, to one arm of eachI have pivotally attached a connecting rod 132, while to the other arm of each lever 131 1 have pivotally attached a second connecting rod 133, equal in length to the length of the connecting rods 132', and formed on the bottom of the connecting rod 133 is a shoe 134 bevelled at its forward end, and slightly greater in length than the width of the cutting block. As the cross bars 74 move along the frame 64, they engageV the bevel'at the front end of the shoes 134 moving the connecting rod 133 upward, and keeping it in its 4uppermost position until the crossv bars 74 move beyond thel rear end of such shoes 134, when such shoes and connecting rods 133 fall by their own weight into their lowermost position. Attached to the right hand bar 119, as viewed in Fig. 2, is a bearing bracket 135,` in which is pivotally mounted a bellcrank lever, o-ne arm 136 of which extends inward and rests on the top of the connecting rodi 133, while the other arm 137 extends downward in posi- '135, and moving the free end of the arm 137 tothe left, as viewed` in Fig. 2,. against the spring pressed rod 37, thus moving the rod 42 to the left and causing a movement to the left of the roller' 45 into the path of movement of the cam` 47 attached to the shaft 25. This cam 47 is so positioned on the shaft 25 with relation to the reciprocating movement of the cutter head 15 and the movement of the chains 73that assuming the cutter head and cha-ins 73 to be moving in synchronism, the roller 45 will move out offthepath of the cam 47 by the movement of the cross bar 74 pastthe shoe 134 at the proper instant and the consequent movement tothe right, as viewed in Fig. 2, ofthe spring pressed rod 37. The clutching mechanism therefore, will be held in operative position as long `as the cross bars 74 come successively into and out of position. If, however, one of the cross bars 74 overruns when coming into position with respect to the cutter head 15, or does'not move far enough when the cutting operation is completed, the end of the arm 136 will remain raised and the roller 45 held in position in the path of the cam 47 .v Thecam 47, engaging the roller 45, rotates the shaft 27, and by means of the clutch fork 28 disengages the clutch members 21 and 22 to stop rotation of the shaft 25gy and thus prevent downward movement of the cutter head 15, and possible injury to the cutters carried thereby by reason of their engagement with the cross bar 74.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows: rThe operator stands in front of the machine, operates the. handle (not shown)l to rotate the shaft 27 and move the clutch operating fork 28 to cause the clutch members 21 and 22 to engage and start the mechanism in operation, the various elements moving` in the direction of the arrows shown in the drawings. The operator placesV the strips of leather 124 in the gripping devices 109, on the cross bars 74, and properly alines the left hand edge thereof with the gaging edge of the gage 155. As the cross barsI 74 move upwardly, the triangular members 105 engage with the rollers 106, to cause operation of the gripping devices 109, and the curved members 115 guide the leather strips from a vertical to a horizontal position, where the deflector 117 guides and flattens the leather strips toward the gang of cutters, the deflector 118 ensuring the proper guiding cf the leather strips beneath the gang of cutters.

'The strips of leather 124 are moved rearwardly in the machine into proper position onto the cutting block beneath the cutter head 15, the stroke of the oscillating frame 76 being properly proportioned to accomplish this result. As the cross bars 74 pass underthe shoes 134C, the roller L15 is positioned, in the manner above decribed, to throwout the clutch automatically and prevent injury to thecutters in case of improper functioning of the cross bars 74E. Assuming however, that the machine is functioning properly, the chains 73 stop with the cross bars Za-in position, whereupon the cutter head descends, performs its operation and moves upward. The next forward step of the Chains 73 and cross bars 'takes place, the pieces into which the strip of leather 1211 has been cut are fed rapidly from the cutting block la and onto the traverse belt 128, which carries them to any desired point.

While I have necessarily described the preferred embodiment of my invention somewhat in detail, it is to be understood that I may vary the size, shape and arrangement of parts constituting my improved machine within wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new, is

l. An improved overthrow preventing device for leather working machines and the like, comprising a support, a shaft rotatably mounted adjacent thereto, a plate loosely mounted on said shaft and engaging said support, and a friction device mounted on said shaft and engaging said plate.

2. An improved overthrow7 preventing device for leather working machines and the like, comprising a support, a shaft rotatably mounted adjacent thereto, a plate loosely mounted on said shaft and engaging said support, a friction device mounted on said shaft and engaging said plate, and means for varying the amount of frictonal engagement between said device and plate.

3. An improved leather working ma.- chine, comprising a work table, a cutter head, means for reciprocating said cutter head toward and from the work table, an endless belt feeding means, a plurality of cross bars spaced along the length of said endless belt, material gripping devices attached to said cross bars, means for moving said cross bars and gripping devices successively into position with respect to said work tableand cutter head, and means to vary the position of the ends'of the cross bars relatively to the endless belt feeding means.

4;. An 4improved leather working machine, comprising a. work table, a cutter head, means for reciprocating said` cutter head toward and from the work table, an endless belt feeding means, a plurality of cross bars spaced along the length of said endless belt,

material gripping devices attached'to 'said to'said cross bars, means for moving said cross bars and grippingr devices successively into position with respect tosaid work table and cutter head, and means to vary, inde pendently, the position ofthe ends of each individual cross bar relatively to the endless belt feeding means.

6. An improved leather working machine, comprising a work table, material feeding means, Lmaterial gripping devices on said feeding means, for gripping materialv fed to the machine in a substantially upright position, -and Guiding plates positioned above saidmaterlal feeding means for guiding the material from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal position.

7. An improved leather working machine, comprising a work table, material feeding means, material gripping devices on said feeding means, for gripping material fed to the machine ina substantially upright position, and curved guiding vplates positioned above said material feeding means for guiding the material from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal position. A

8. An improved leather working machine, comprising a work table, a cutter head, meansfor reciprocating said cutter head toward and from the work table, material feeding means, means for moving the feeding means step-by-step acrossthe path of movement of the cutter head, and means for deflecting the material into parallelism with and adjacent to the work table.

9. An` improved leather working machine, comprising a work table, a cutter head, means for reciprocating said cutter' head toward and from the work table, material feeding means, means for moving the feeding means step-by-step across the path of movement of the cutter head, and means for feeding means across the path of movement deflecting the material into parallelism With of the cutter head, means for adjusting the l0 and beneath the cutter head. length of stroke of said moving means, and 10. An improved leather Working mameans for independently adjusting the machine, comprising a Work table, a cutter teral feeding means.

head, means for reciprocating said cutter In testimony whereof, I have signed my head toward and from the Work table, maname to this specification.

'aerial feeding means, means for moving said CHARLES ADRIAN SAWYER, JR. 

